Since 2009 when AFA first began delivering services to families, 69 families have worked to make improvements in their lives in employment, assets management and education, as well as in building healthy relationships and lifestyles. During the second year of program implementation, 42 families participated at least three months with 35 families still active as of June, 2011. Length of participation is almost equally divided with 30 percent in AFA 13-26 months, about 35 percent in AFA for 6-12 months, and the rest less than six months. Retention of program participants has increased since the first year of implementation.
AFA is designed to work with low-wage working families with incomes up to 200 percent of Federal Poverty Guidelines (see chart on lower right). However, 53 percent of the AFA families fall into the “poverty” category due to job instability and single head of household situations. The majority of AFA families (81 percent) are not married. Sixty-six percent of family members identified themselves as African American, 19 percent as White and 14 percent as Hispanic or Latino. The chart below presents a comparison of Year 2 AFA families and the Racine County residents within the AFA target income guidelines. (U.S. Census - ACS 2000-2009)
Families meeting the AFA criteria are referred through local agencies, churches and government programs. In some cases, AFA families themselves have referred friends or neighbors. Currently, almost all AFA families reside in the City of Racine, with two families living in Union Grove.
AFA coaches helped families by sharing job leads with adults, assisting with resume development and conducting mock interviews. In some cases, the coaches helped determine the need for further training or education to increase employability. Coaches developed monthly budgets with families, accompanied them to banking and credit counseling appointments, and assisted families with searching for and viewing affordable housing.
Benchmark
Results
Comments
Community partners such as the Racine County Workforce Development Center, Racine Kenosha Community Action Agency and Educators Credit Union (ECU) brought a number of resources to the families: Income tax preparation for 10 families; Employability workshops, career counseling, and resume writing; Enrollment of 14 in Wisconsin Investment Act employment program; 80 free credit reports for AFA participants; Credit rebuilder loans and financial counseling; and Co-sponsorship of financial planning event for 32 AFA participants.
Improved budgeting and paying off debt have been families’ first steps toward better lives. A key indicator of progress toward financial stability is improved credit scores. While AFA adults have improved their scores an average of 34 points within a 6-12 month 800 period, only three have achieved the benchmark 700 640 score of 640 or better. 600 Three adults had 500 significant drops in 400 their scores due to job 300 loss and medical 200 emergencies. The average score for Year 100 2 AFA families as a 0 whole is 538.
AFA Families are provided a small measure of immediate financial assistance to offset expenses for enrichment activities or in the event of a crisis. Families apply for funds through the FSF Advisory Team. Many AFA children benefitted from enrichment funds which covered costs of summer camp sessions, swimming lessons or gymnastics camp. Expenses that were paid with approved crisis funds included a washer and dryer for a large family, WE Energies partial payments, car repairs, and bus tokens. For the 2010-11 program year, $572 from the Family Support Fund were allocated for enrichment, with $3,758 going for emergency needs.
Income Highlights Twenty-four AFA families filed taxes for a combined total of $139,000 in income tax dollars returned to the community Nine families moved to safer, more affordable residences. Ten AFA families attended a Habitat for Humanity orientation; one family was accepted to Habitat for Humanity. Two families paid off all old debt.
Positive Outcomes
Results
Family Success Coaches have helped AFA adults determine if going back to school is the best course of action for improved employability and assisted families with the filing of financial aid paperwork. For preschoolers, the coaches administer the Ages & Stages Questionnaire that helps determine school readiness. In some cases, coaches accompanied parents to school appointments or shadowed children during the school day to help assess the school situation and behaviors that might be hindering positive academic achievement. Key community partners in the education sector have been Family Literacy of Racine, Gateway Technical College, John XXIII Educational Center, and Racine Unified School District.
Education Highlights
32 attended AFA Night at Racine Public Library to learn about the library and apply for cards. 49 AFA participants attended AFA’s Back-to School Family event and received bags of school supplies while children created their own homework supply storage boxes. Three families registered for summer camp and/or tutoring for the 2011-2012 academic year through John XXIII Educational Center.
To ensure positive health outcomes for families, AFA coaches have written Individual Success Plans that include goals such as identifying doctors, visiting the doctor regularly, learning to prepare healthy meals, and establishing workout routines. Coaches make sure families apply for BadgerCare if needed. Coaches have also accompanied expectant mothers to doctors visits and referred youth and adults to counseling or mental health services. The YMCA has continued to be a great partner offering YMCA memberships for families who are making progress toward their AFA goals. For the second summer in a row, AFA partnered with the UW-Extension to offer a Nutrition Education Series to AFA families with sessions focused on a broad range of topics including Planning Meals and Budgeting for Food.
Health Highlights
30 families now have YMCA memberships. Two births in Year 2: one healthy and one premature, but now on track with healthy development. 46 AFA participants took part in the field trip to Growing Power, a national, non-profit organization that is committed to providing equal access to healthy, affordable food to all. July 2010 Gardening & Growing Event, sponsored in partnership with HALO and UW Extension, was attended by 40 participants.
Challenge 2: Many Racine County residents, primarily concentrated in the central areas of the City of Racine, need to access and embrace additional education, skill building, and family support opportunities so that they are successful in strengthening their families and increasing their financial stability. . The Racine County Workforce Development Board developed its ten-year workforce development strategy with a vision of developing by 2020 “a vital, dynamic economy characterized by a workforce that is fully employed.” At the time the plan was released in 2008, certain areas within the county suffered from extremely high and unacceptable rates of unemployment while many area employers could not find adequately trained, reliable workers. From the resulting report entitled Higher Expectations, six community challenges were identified and teams formed to take action toward addressing the challenges. Challenge 2. in the plan focused on “stronger, more financially stable families.” For Challenge 2., United Way was asked to serve as convener of a coalition charged with creating a plan to empower lowincome residents to function well in their day-to-day lives as employees, family members, and productive citizens of their communities. After community gatherings and much research, an approach was constructed, resulting in Advancing Family Assets, a new community impact initiative of United Way of Racine County. AFA is now in its second year of delivering services to families and has been able to demonstrate positive results in the lives of participating Racine County residents. United Way will continue to monitor progress and provide leadership with the vision that AFA will be recognized as a successful approach to ensuring financial stability and family success for low-wage, working families, thereby becoming a replicable model for other social service providers and communities.
The work of Advancing Family Assets has been made possible through partnerships with local organizations and institutions that provide programs and services to AFA families. United Way and AFA are grateful for the many individuals who have helped with programs and special events throughout the year or sponsoring of AFA families during the holidays, as well as helping AFA establish its new offices. AT&T Burlington Coat Factory Caron Butler CNH America LLC Cops „n Kids Reading Center Covenant Presbyterian Church Diversey, Inc. DuraColor Educators Credit Union The GAP Gateway Technical College Holy Communion Lutheran Church Johnson Financial Modine Manufacturing Co. Office Depot Racine County Food Bank Racine County UW-Extension Racine Founders Rotary Club St. Catherine‟s High School Alumni Association Tri City National Bank Advancing Family Assets has continued to develop and grow its services with the generous financial contributions from individuals, businesses and organizations. We extend a special thank you to the following: David Beach and Carmen Rigau The A.C. Buhler Family Butter Buds Food Ingredients City of Racine H. Fisk Johnson Racine Community Foundation Racine County Workforce Development Center Racine Federated, Inc. United Way of Racine County donors
Over the summer of 2010, United Way and AFA staff and volunteers, along with other community leaders, participated in a strategic planning process resulting in the determination of seven strategic organizational goals for 2010-12. Action plans were developed for each strategic goal. Through its ongoing evaluation of program implementation and participant progress, AFA has continued to refine its organizational infrastructure to address the following critical issues: Image Development, AFA Model Development, Collaborative Community Engagement, Effective Leadership, and Sustainable Operations.
Advancing Family Assets serves low-wage working families through the provision of high quality support services in line with individual success plans that address the whole family in the areas of income, education and health. The AFA Family Success Coaches ensure all family members focus on their best possible futures: adults get jobs or better jobs, families manage their money better, young children are ready to succeed in Kindergarten, kids do better in school and participate in afterschool activities, family members learn to get along with each other, and all family members practice healthy lifestyles. Ultimately, adults will be prepared to succeed in the workplace and students will graduate ready to enter the workforce or post-secondary education without remediation. AFA helps give families chances for success. When families succeed, our community thrives.
For more information on the AFA model or to schedule a presentation on AFA for your group or organization, contact AFA Program Director Kimberly Payne at kpayne@afaracine.org. Faith-based organizations interested in creating support teams for AFA families should contact United Way Community Initiatives Administrator Marie Hargrove at mhargrove@unitedwayracine.org for information on AFA faith-based team start-up, training and management. For more information about AFA as a United Way community initiative, contact Susan Gould, United Way Vice President -Community Impact, at sgould@unitedwayracine.org.
In order for families to fully participate in the mainstream economy, households must have adequate income to support all family members. Family income may come from jobs or accessing benefits to which they are entitled. Families must also be able to build and protect their assets through increased financial literacy skills and maintaining their assets of home or vehicle. Adults and children need to continue to gain knowledge and skills that ultimately lead to productive lives. All children need positive preschool and after school experiences while adults may participate in training programs. Family members get connected to local educational resources. All members of the family experience success in various aspects of their lives, from school to work to home life, when they build healthy habits and demonstrate positive relationships in the household. Families need to gain new knowledge and skills to develop healthy lifestyles.
By 2020, Advancing Family Assets (AFA) will have measurably increased the financial and family stability of at least 500 families in Racine County, achieving a variety of positive outcomes within the families leading to increases in the number of reliable and productive workers, ultimately reducing poverty in Racine County.